The huge SUV offensive that Renault has been carried out in recent months (Austral, Rafale, Scenic, Espace...) is now completed with the arrival of this new Renault Symbioz that we have just tested in Valencia and that will begin to arrive at dealerships in just a few weeks.
As its name indicates (Symbioz comes from the Greek "symbiosis", which means "life together"), it aims to be a family alternative within the compact segment; That is, a car for main use for three or four occupants that does not require as much space as what a larger model like the Austral or even the 7-seater Espace can already offer.
As also happens with the Mitsubishi ASX and with the renewed Captur from which the Japanese order most of its components, the new Symbioz will be made in Spain because It will be assembled at the Valladolid plant.
Renault Symbioz, a design that makes you fall in love
For tastes, colors, but I think there will be few who will not find the new Symbioz attractive. He design language worked by Gilles Vidal, a former Peugeot employee, has managed to be impeccable and we will most likely see it translated into good success in the market.
The front inherits from makeover of the Captur the new concave grille that gives all the prominence to the new retro Renault badge. Also the full LED optics, with a very stylized shape at the top, and the vertical daytime running lights integrate perfectly with the central area of the front.
In the profile the 4,4 meters in length (2,64 meters of wheelbase) that place it directly in the C-SUV segment to fight with rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Citroën C5 Aircross, Toyota C-HR and many others. Depending on the finish chosen -techno, esprit Alpine and iconic-, the wheels will be 18 or 19 inches and may even have a nice aero design, as is the case with the third.
As for the rear view, the horizontal LED strip that had been common in practically all the new launches is discarded in the Symbioz (quite a success, in my opinion) in favor of a new union between both pilots, a kind of fine chiselling that, as on the front, only further enhances the vintage brand logo.
Inside, a Captur with more space and a larger trunk
The front part of the cabin is modeled on that of a Captur, with the same steering wheel, the same dashboard design and the same two 10,3 and 10,4 inch screens for the instrumentation and infotainment system. The vertical arrangement of the latter greatly facilitates navigation monitoring and, above all, it is worth highlighting the benefits in terms of connectivity provided by the Google Automotive Services that it includes as standard, by which we have Google Maps and countless applications among which are Spotify, YouTube, Amazon…
The perceived quality does seem somewhat higher than that of the utility vehicle, at least in the esprit Alpine finish with Alcantara upholstery, embroidery and moldings that simulate the French flag and the iconic arrowed "A" in many areas of the interior.
Where greater space is strongly appreciated is in the rear seats, where two adults of medium-large size or even three children will travel much more comfortably than in a Captur. The rear seats are sliding and this allows for a trunk capacity in a normal configuration of five seats. up to 548 liters.
A 145 HP hybrid to start
During the first months of marketing, Symbioz will only be available with a only conventional hybrid version of 145 HP, composed of a 1.6 HP 94 gasoline engine and two additional electric motors that provide extra strength.
Specifically, the most capable 50 HP acts as a propellant in low demand conditions, while the other 20 HP supports the first in its function of generating energy for the 1,2 kWh battery. That's why it never empties.
The 145 HP goes directly to the front axle through a automatic gearbox and the truth is that the performance is more than sufficient for any imaginable context, whether in urban, peri-urban environments, on expressways or even on secondary roads and ports with great unevenness.
Also, thanks to The combustion engine is a four cylinder, it feels very refined and does not bother you with annoying noises inside.
All versions will have Eco label
The official performance speaks of 0 to 100 km/h in 10,6 seconds and a top speed of 170 km/h, which translates as we say into that we will always obtain a frank and generous response. Of course, when we are loaded to the brim with occupants and luggage and we want to face an overtake, it will be advisable to be decisive and have the front very clear.
In this sense, the future could hold a microhybrid version with some more horsepower like the 160 MHEV that exists in the Captur or Austral ranges. At the moment it is not confirmed, but the one that will arrive will not take long. It will be a 140 HP microhybrid which will be positioned as the access version and will possibly be the most successful due to its good price/product ratio. It will be around 30.000 euros to start.
Regarding consumption, both that next MHEV and the current hybrid will be in the around 6 l/100 km real average, depending on several factors such as use, load or driving mode of each user.
We will conclude by giving a few strokes of how it feels dynamically when we get behind the wheel, and here, although We tell you in more detail in the video that opens this article, suffice it to say that it is a car that leaves a good taste in your mouth both on city trips and on the asphalt of highways or highways.
We have not yet been able to test it on secondary roads with a lot of succession of curves, but taking into account that it is based on the CMF-B platform (Captur, Clio...) we can venture to say that it will be able to effectively contain the inertia and drifts that its 1.500 kg weight causes in a car measuring almost four and a half meters.
What is worth highlighting is that Renault Steering feel has been significantly improved. in recent times: a couple of years ago or three we noticed a steering that was too artificial and electric, now it provides a feedback more palpable thanks to an express request from Luca de Meo, according to what the brand tells us.
Price of the new Renault Symbioz E-Tech hybrid
The 145 HP Symbioz E-Tech is now available in official dealerships in our country at a price ranging from 33.360 euros for the base finish (techno) to 36.360 euros for the iconic one. With the minimum discount, the price remains at 32.000 euros.
Images | renault